The absolute stereochemistry of the secondary alcohol of the 1,2-dihyd
roxybutenyl substituent of ciguatoxin (1) was shown to be S by compari
ng the split CD curve of ciguatoxin tetra-p-bromobenzoate (2) with tho
se of di- and tri-p-bromobenzoates of AB ring fragments that were synt
hesized enantioselectively. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.